BILL REQ. #:  S-3729.1 

Read first time 01/16/12.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to authorization periods for subsidized child care; amending RCW 43.215.135; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.215.135 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 42 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall establish and implement policies in the working connections child care program to promote stability and quality of care for children from low-income households. Policies for the expenditure of funds constituting the working connections child care program must be consistent with the outcome measures defined in RCW 74.08A.410 and the standards established in this section intended to promote continuity of care for children.
     (2) As a condition of receiving a child care subsidy or a working connections child care subsidy, the applicant or recipient must seek child support enforcement services from the department of social and health services, division of child support, unless the department finds that the applicant or recipient has good cause not to cooperate.
     (3) ((Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section)) Beginning in fiscal year 2013, an applicant or recipient of a child care subsidy or a working connections child care subsidy is eligible to receive that subsidy for ((six)) twelve months before having to recertify his or her income eligibility unless a change in circumstances necessitates reauthorization earlier than twelve months. The ((six)) twelve-month certification provision applies only if enrollments in the child care subsidy or working connections child care program are capped.
     (4) Beginning in fiscal year 2011, for families with children enrolled in an early childhood education and assistance program, a head start program, or an early head start program, authorizations for the working connections child care subsidy shall be effective for twelve months unless a change in circumstances necessitates reauthorization sooner than twelve months.
     (((5) The department, in consultation with the department of social and health services, shall report to the legislature by September 1, 2011, with:
     (a) An analysis of the impact of the twelve-month authorization period on the stability of child care, program costs, and administrative savings; and
     (b) Recommendations for expanding the application of the twelve-month authorization period to additional populations of children in care.))

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   This act takes effect July 1, 2012.